- Text: www.kart-dm.de
- Photos: LRNPhoto / Loredana Ivancov
Last weekend, 164 drivers from all over the world fought for victories and championship points in the five DMSB grade series DKM, DJKM, DSKM, DSKC, and DEKM. In changing weather conditions on Saturday, drivers, teams, and helpers were especially challenged. On Sunday, it stayed dry and the races took place in better conditions. In the end, there were four double winners: Harry Thompson (DKM), Robert De Haan (DJKM), Stan Pex (DSKM) and David Trefilovs (DSKC).
DEKM: Victories for Luca Wlömer – DTM-star Habsburg in third place on Sunday
The German Electric Kart Championship (DEKM)’s second event took place in Kerpen. 13 drivers started and impressed with thrilling kart racing and narrow race decisions once again. The two victories went to Luka Wlömer while DTM-driver Ferdinand Habsburg returned to kart racing as a guest and ended up in a great third place on Sunday.
DJKM: Robert De Haan strengthens championship lead thanks to a double victory
The American driver Connor Zilisch (WARD Racing) was the first surprise in the Junior Qualifying, achieving Pole position for the first time but fell back during the heats and gave the lead to championship leader Robert de Haan (Energy Corse). The Dutchman reached the top position on the provisional rankings thanks to a victory and a second place. During the two final races on Sunday, he was then able to tie in with his performance of the previous day, defending his first place while building a considerable gap during the 18 lap race. “I always do my best and am happy to have won both races. I was able to drive off from the start and then tried to defend my lead”, said the 13-year-old youngster.
There were several duels regarding the following places though. During the first Final, Christian Ho (Ricky Flynn Motorsport) drove securely to the second position. Seven drivers fought for the third place behind. In the end, Tasanapol Inthraphuvasak (KR Motorsport) won the battle. Behind him, Emil Tanggard (HK Motorsport) and German Daniel Gregor (Junior Team75) followed. The latter took the lead of the field of pursuers for a long time during the second race. Shortly after the halfway mark, the pressure by Christian Ho became too much and he had to let him pass. Until the finish line, the German then had to fend off the attacks of other pursuers but came home in third place in the end. The cup ranks were completed by Levente Revesz (KR Motorsport) and Luca Leistra (RS Schumacher Racing Team).
Championship ranking DJKM after 6 of 10 races:
1. Robert De Haan (185 points)
2. Jakob Bergmeister (102 points)
3. Christian Ho (101 points)
4. Luca Leistra (98 points)
5. Levente Revesz (79 points)
DSKC: Final victory for David Trefilovs
Dutch rookie Senna van Walstijn (SP Motorsport) dominated the events on Saturday. In a mix of sunshine and rain, he was the fastest in Qualifying and won both of his heats. The field consisting of 37 drivers was once again divided into two groups for the Prefinal. During the first race, Van Walstijn was unstoppable again and he secured Pole position for the final race. An equally dominant performance was delivered by David Trefilovs (SRP Racing Team) during the second Prefinal. The Maranello-driver also had a considerable advance and completed the first starting row for the final race.
Both winners then fought for the victory. Trefilovs took a better start and directly took the leading position. During the first half of the race, Van Walstijn stayed in his shadow. In the end, he had to let Trefilovs drive off though and came in second. “This was a hard race. I took the lead due to a good start and then defended my position. My team and I are very happy”, the winner from Berlin summed up. Third winner Valentino Fritsch (BirelART Racing KSW) had to show his fighting spirit until the finish line though. Konstantin Kapetanidis (CPB Sport) was right in his bumper, but couldn’t find a way past him. Patrick Kreutz (RS Motorsport) came in fifth on his home track but a time penalty threw him out of the cup ranks. Tim Tröger (Mach1 Motorsport) inherited his position.
Championship ranking DSKC after 6 of 10 races:
1. Senna Van Walstijn (115 points)
2. Valentino Fritsch (112 points)
3. David Trefilovs (87 points)
4. Valdemar Risom (83 points)
5. Konstantin Kapetanidis (77 points)
DSKM: Double victory and a championship lead for Stan Pex
Qualifying of the German Shifterkart Championship (DSKM) ended with a bang. Reigning champion Fabian Federer (SRP Racing Team) drove a new track record and simultaneously gained Pole position for the Qualifying Heats during which Stan Pex (SP Motorsport) made himself known again. The Dutchman won both races and thereby was the title favorite for the final races.
In the first Final, he won the start but had to bow down to Emilien Denner (CPB Sport)’s attacks after a few laps. The reigning DSKC-champion drove away from his pursuers and won. Afterwards, a spoiler penalty threw him back though and he was only ranked fourth. Thereby, Stan Pex was the new winner in front of his brother Jorrit. Leonardo Marseglia (BirelART Racing KSW) came in third and also ended up on the winners‘ podium. Overall leading driver Fabian Federer (SRP Racing Team) had a bad start. After the first lap, he was only in thirteenth place but fought his way forward to fifth.
The second Final started with another setback for Denner. During the starting phase, he was involved in a collision and had to quit the race. At the front, the Pex brothers set the pace in the meantime. While Stan was unstoppable and drove towards his double victory, his brother Jorrit’s bad luck continued. Nine laps before the end of the race, he had to prematurely quit. Second place went to Federer who had lost lots of positions after the start again and fought his way forward during the course of the race. This time, he fell back to fifth place due to a spoiler penalty though. Marseglia ended up on the podium again as the second winner in front of his brand colleague Riccardo Longhi (BirelART Racing KSW) and Jeremy Iglesias (RS Schumacher Racing Team). At the finish line, Stan Pex was beaming with joy: “This is the third year in a row that I’ve achieved a double victory here in Kerpen. This has never been done by another DKM driver. The competition is really strong, that’s why this success is worth so much.”
Championship ranking DSKM after 6 of 10 races:
1. Stan Pex (152 points)
2. Fabian Federer (131 points)
3. Riccardo Longhi (92 points)
4. Jeremy Iglesias (89 points)
5. Emilien Denner (85 points)
DKM: Double victory for Harry Thompson
Reigning champion Harry Thompson (Ricky Flynn Motorsport) came back to the DKM-events with the best lap time in Qualifying and drove among the front field during the heats as well. Kas Haverkort (CRG Keijzer Racing) jumped all the way to the top though. The two of them fought for victory during the first final race as well. Haverkort led the first race but Thompson kept close and reversed the order a short time later. The Brit won in front of Haverkort and Hugo Sasse (TB Racing Team). Behind the three winners, the other positions were quickly taken as well. Luca Griggs (Kartshop Ampfing) and Felix Arnold (TB Racing Team) followed in fourth and fifth places respectively.
Kick-off winner Harry Thompson also achieved a safe victory in the second final race and positively summed things up: “Even though it may have looked like it, this was not an easy race. During the last ten laps, Alex came closer and closer and I had to try to keep him at a distance. In the end, this worked out and I’m happy about the double victory.” Behind him, things got dramatic as Haverkort and Sasse fought for second place. Alexander Tauscher (Junior Team75) took advantage and came close to drive past them. During the course of the race, Haverkort had to quit due to an engine defect and had to watch from the sideline as Ben Dörr (TB Racing Team) fought his way forward to third behind Tauscher. Sasse came in fourth in front of Niels Tröger (CRG Keijzer Racing).
Championship ranking DKM after 6 of 10 races:
1. Hugo Sasse (126 points)
2. Kas Haverkort (112 points)
3. Lorenzo Travisanutto (111 points)
4. Harry Thompson (98 points)
5. Alexander Tauscher (73 points)
The German Kart Championship will get back on track in three weeks at the “Home of Champions” of Genk, in Belgium, where the first title decisions could already be made.
